Not only did the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team win its conference opener Wednesday, Dec. 12, it knocked off previously unbeaten team, Archbishop Murphy, 59-53 in Everett.

“I was really impressed with our composure throughout the entire game,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said. “We looked like an experienced team tonight, and we hope to build off of it.

“Any time you can get a league win on the road is a big deal.”

Down 46-45 going into the final period, Oak Harbor limited Archbishop Murphy to only 7 fourth-quarter points to secure the win.

Oak Harbor received a boost from Gavin Allen, Haven Brown, Austin Boesch and Matt Kelley.

Allen, a starter last year, was playing in only his second game this season because of an injury and scored 10 points.

“He really helped to control our offense and run the show as our point guard,” Weston said.

Brown, who missed the previous game with an illness, returned to score 10 points, “although he is still recovering from being sick,” according to Weston.

Boesch “really helped out,” Weston said, when starter Kevin Schuldt went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Weston asked Kelley “to take more shots and to become more aggressive,” and the sophomore responded by scoring a season-high 14 points.

“I was really impressed,” Weston said. “(Kelley) did a great job.”

Guiding it all, Weston noted, was Dorian Hardin.

“Dorian was super efficient all night long and really led the charge,” Weston said.

Hardin finished with a game-high 21 points.

Oak Harbor jumped to a 7-0 lead, which gave the Wildcats “some early confidence,” according to Weston.

Hardin scored 9 points and Kelley 5 as Oak Harbor led 18-14 after one quarter.

Archbishop Murphy (0-1, 3-1) outscored Oak Harbor 13-9 in the second period to even the score at 27.

Despite 7 points from Hardin and 5 from Kelley, Murphy took a 46-45 lead into the final frame.

Three balls from Kelley and Brown and a stout defense helped Oak Harbor control the fourth quarter.

For the game, Schuldt and Terrell Crumpton completed Oak Harbor’s scoring with 2 points each.

Jaxon Miller led Murphy with 11 points.

Oak Harbor (1-0, 2-3) hosts Shorewood (1-0, 2-2) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.